As for why working cat programs are so important, Samantha says they save lives. "Shelters are scary places for even the friendliest cats. And some cats are so scared in a shelter environment that they won’t let anyone interact with them. And as you can imagine, it’s quite difficult to find a home for a cat that won’t let anyone touch them," she shared.
"In these cases, the best outcome for these cats is to be placed as working cats. Once they arrive at their new home, they can take as long as they want to warm up to people, if they want to," the expert explained. "And many do. I’ve placed many cats as working cats and within weeks, they’ve moved inside the home because they’re so loving, and the family comes back for more working cats for outside."
"Sometimes the shelter environment does not allow cats’ true personalities to shine through. And the option of leaving the shelter as working cats saves scared cats’ lives," Samantha continued. "And most working cats don’t even need to actually 'work.' Their scent alone keeps critters away."
"The Working Cat program is important because it provides a second-chance opportunity for a cat that is not interested in a companion lifestyle," Scott told Bored Panda. "Granted, this a spectrum whereas some working cats may be friendly and come by to say hello once in a while, but their comfort zone is primarily an independent lifestyle. The job of being a mouser is incredibly enriching for a cat because they are natural born hunters."
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And what role do the humans who adopt working cats play in their lives? "Those who adopt working cats provide food, water, shelter, and medical care for the cats," Samantha says. "When working cats arrive at a new location, they need to stay in an enclosed location for 2-3 weeks, so they become acclimated to the area and don’t get lost when released."
"When a client adopts a working cat from NOCO Humane, we ensure they understand the requirements of caring for them, which are: cats receive proper and ongoing veterinary care, have access to safety from the elements, and access to food and water (though many take care of their own food needs through hunting)," Scott shared. "We’ve seen awesome examples of outdoor cat houses/structures built from scratch for such purposes."
Are you feeling inspired to sign your cat up for LinkedIn, pandas? We hope you’re loving these photos of working kitties, and remember to keep upvoting all of your favorites. Then, if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article featuring adorable cats, look no further than right here!
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